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Remember you are not to blame for what is happening and help is available.

A number of agencies work together in Dorset to provide specialist services for victims. Please find details below:

Outreach:

Outreach workers can support you wherever you are. Outreach workers can talk to you on the phone or meet you on a one to one basis. They also run drop-ins across Dorset where you can meet other people in similar situations and receive on-going support.

Childline: 0800 1111 childline.org.uk If you are under 18 years old and experiencing domestic abuse within your own relationship or if domestic abuse is taking place in your home (perhaps between parents or siblings), speak to a teacher or someone you can trust, or contact Childline.

SafeDATE provide useful advice for young people about healthy relationships: safedate.org.uk

Tell me more

Coercive and controlling behaviour is psychological and emotional abuse and is a criminal offence.

Controlling behaviour is:a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.

Coercive behaviour is:an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

Domestic abuse legislation under the Serious Crime Act was introduced on 29 December 2015, to make actions of coercive or controlling behaviour a criminal offence.

This means that victims who experience coercive and controlling behaviour that stops short of serious physical violence, but amounts to extreme psychological and emotional abuse, could bring their perpetrators to justice.

The offence does not apply retrospectively.

The legislation closes a gap in the law around patterns of controlling or coercive behaviour in an ongoing relationship between intimate partners or family members. The offence carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a fine or both.

The offence applies when the behaviour takes place repeatedly or continuously, meaning on an ongoing basis. The pattern of behaviour has to have a “serious effect” on the victim - this means that they have been caused to either fear that violence will be used against them on 'at least two occasions', or they have been caused serious alarm or distress which has a substantial adverse effect on the victim’s usual day-to-day activities.

The behaviour must be such that the perpetrator knows or 'ought to know' that it will have a serious effect on the victim.

The victim and perpetrator must have been personally connected when the offences took place. It is not necessary for the perpetrator and victim to still be cohabiting or in a relationship when the offence is reported, as long as the incidents took place when they were 'personally connected', and after the offence came into force.

Dorset Police take any reports of abuse very seriously, however other agencies detailed on this page can help if you do not wish to speak to the police.

It is recognised that these behaviours can cause significant harm to victims and their children. These behaviours are criminal and Dorset Police has specially trained officers to investigate domestic abuse and support victims. Information about the Criminal Prosecution Service (CPS) process is in the next section below.

Dorset Police has specially trained officers to investigatedomestic abuse and support victims. Call 101 to report a crime.Always call 999 in an emergency.

What will the police do?

Dorset Police’s officers are trained to deal with domestic abuse. They will listen, treat you with respect, sensitivity and:

Conduct a full risk assessment with you and consider your needs.

Investigate all incidents which occur and take positive action against the abuser - where there is sufficient evidence.

Inform social services and health agencies of any domestic abuse incidents involving children so they can provide further help and support for you and your family.

Keep you informed on developments of any legal proceedings. If you are required to go to court, the police and other specially trained workers can provide support, and arrange support whilst attending court with you where necessary.

Put you in contact with victim services, advocacy support and other partner organisations.

Dorset Police will seek to bring offenders of domestic abuse crimes to justice and will work with victims to help safeguard them from further abuse.

We will also work to make sure that you and any other witnesses to the offences feel confident enough to report offences and give evidence in court.

All victims and witnesses involved in cases going through the court process are referred to the Victim and Witness Support Team; they provide a single point of contact until the court case is finished and will contact you, keep you informed about your case and arrange on-going support.

YourWitness Care Officercan work with you to overcome any issues or problems you may have about coming to court, ranging from childcare issues to fears of intimidation.

Dorset Police and the CPS work together withVictim Support, Witness Services and partner agencies to provide a service in which victims and witnesses of crime can feel confident.

The CPS prosecutes criminal cases that have been investigated by the police and other investigative organisations in England and Wales. The CPS is independent and makes their decisions independently of the police and government.

When deciding whether to prosecute a criminal case, prosecutors must follow the Code for Crown Prosecutors. This means that to charge someone with a criminal offence, prosecutors must be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, and that prosecuting is in the public interest.

The CPS prosecutes all forms of domestic abuse and we encourage everyone to recognise it and report it.

We work closely with the police and our other criminal justice partners to make sure that we build strong domestic abuse cases, and that we provide specialist support to victims so that they feel they can give their best evidence.

You can find out more about the CPS domestic abuse campaign, #DAinfocus, take part in the government consultation on domestic abuse, and find out more information about our legal policy and guidance here.

If you need support or help regarding suicide, self-harm or emotional distress contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org

The Cut Your Strings campaign was made in collaboration with Bournemouth University, the Dorset High Sheriff John Young, Dorset Police, the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Wessex Crown Prosecution Service and the Safer Poole Partnership.